Some 200 protesters took to the streets in Almonte on Saturday carrying signs and chanting “save our river” to oppose the controversial Enerdu power project planned for their downtown.

The proposed hydro power plant expansion in Almonte has become a lightning rod for residents’ anger amid fears the project will be a visual and economic blemish upon the community’s historic downtown core.

“For me, this is the heart of Almonte, and it is at stake,” said Linda Manzer.

“We just want someone to hit the pause button so we can take a closer look at it.”

About three years in the making, the plan is to expand an existing hydro plant located in an old flour mill that currently generates about 300 kilowatts.

The larger power plant, which will cost about $6 million and is being pushed by local businessman Jeff Cavanagh of Cavanagh Construction, will generate approximately 990 kilowatts.

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen

A protester stands in front of the old mill that currently houses power plant. New one would expand on it into river.

Lee Berthiaume / Ottawa Citizen

This is where the new power plant would be located.

Lee Berthiaume / Ottawa Citizen

One of the many protesters who fear the plant will be a blemish on the downtown's charm.

Hundreds of people gathered to protest the Enerdu hydro power project, saying it will ruin tourism, heritage flavour and the natural environment along the river and in the town of Almonte, Ont., on June 28, 2014.

But that will require a large new building to be attached to the old mill. The new building will stick out into the river, along which the town’s scenic downtown is built. A large, inflatable barrier made of black rubber will also be built upriver to help control water flow.

The plan is to start construction in the fall, pending approval from the province, with all work completed in a year or two.

Enerdu project manager Rick Campbell said the province recently approved an environmental impact assessment conducted by the company, and that the company is now working with a heritage-approved architect to find ways to minimize visual impact.

“The interesting thing is we had proposed to use similar stone veneer and to try to match the (old flour mill), the windows and look,” Campbell said.

“The heritage consultant said that makes a mockery of heritage. They believe you don’t copy, what you do is try to make sure it has less of an impact on the older structures that are there.”

He also says the new inflatable barrier is safer than the wooden planks currently used to divert water for the existing power plant, and that the company will comply with water-level standards set by the province in 2006.

But residents opposed to the project say they worry the project will change the river, which has been used for recreational purposes for generations, and that the new building will be an eyesore in the heart of their scenic downtown.

“I think it will destroy the tourism,” said Bud Bova. “I know there’s an awful lot of people who come to see the old buildings and the river.”

Several businesses on the main downtown strip running alongside the river had signs similar to those carried by the protesters on Saturday, indicating their opposition to the project.

Those opposed to the expansion said the potential costs far outweigh any benefits, whether those be economic or in terms of power generation. They also complained about a lack of consultation from the province, which is overseeing the project.

Campbell said the power generated by the plant will be sold to the Ottawa River Power Corp., which supplies power to Almonte.

And while the plant will be largely automated, meaning no direct jobs will be created, “there will be a $6-million construction project that is happening in the region that will generate significant amount of work for people here.”

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